Two survivors of the June 2022 terrorist attack on St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, have identified some of the alleged attackers during a court session in Abuja.
The Federal High Court is trying five suspects: Idris Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), Abdulhaleem Idris (25), and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47). They face nine amended counts of terrorism and have pleaded not guilty.
A male witness, identified as SSB, gave a harrowing account of the attack that killed at least 41 worshippers. He told the court that gunmen forced their way in after congregants tried to secure the main door.
“In a matter of seconds, I saw one man holding a gun. He looked at the church, then beckoned to someone behind him,” SSB testified. He initially pointed to the fifth defendant, Momoh Abubakar, but later corrected himself to identify the second defendant, Al Qasim Idris, after the suspect removed his face mask.
SSB also identified Abdulhaleem Idris as the man carrying a bag as the attackers prepared to leave. He described falling to the ground in fear amid gunfire and explosions. “After the attackers left, I saw two dead bodies outside the church. More than 40 worshippers were killed while many others were injured,” he stated.
A second witness, a woman referred to as SSC, testified that she survived but sustained permanent injuries. She recounted a gunman dropping dynamite near her while demanding, “Do you know why we are doing this?” She also described the traumatic scene of identifying her two-year-old cousin among the dead.
SSC showed the court her left leg, which has undergone four surgeries and still contains metal fixtures. Both witnesses confirmed they gave statements to the Department of State Services (DSS) in Akure in 2024.
Their statements were admitted as evidence without objection from the defense. The DSS counsel, Adedayo Adedipe (SAN), stated that the prosecution plans to call seven more witnesses.
Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the trial to January 14, 2026, for continuation. The attack remains one of Nigeria’s deadliest assaults on a place of worship.
